Like other parts of Afghanistan,
Bamyan has been the victim of foreign invasion and civil war. These
catestrophic wars resulted into almost complete destruction of infrastructure
including education syytems and schools. With dawn of democratic scenario,
beacons of hopes lit for prosperous future as education was one of the core
develeopment sectors of Afghan Democratic Government and International
Community.  Schools were rehabilitated across
the country including in Bamyan with support of international aid agencies.
Because Bamyan’s population is scattered students have to walk long to get to
their schools, which sometimes causes girls’ drop out. However, the Central
Highlands Region in general and Bamyan in particular witnesses gender balance
in schools and higher education institutes. Youths in the Central Highlands
Region show their commitment and passion to stand for better Bamyan despite all
challenges including limited opportunities. 

Bamyan University, established
in 1996 and formally registered in the Ministry of Higher Education in 2002
with (4) faculty departments “Geology,
Sociology, Education and Agriculture/Livestock” and recent night-shift classes for
“English Literature and Biology” departments, is the only university in the
Central Highlands Region.Amazingly, the university enrollment consists of (60%)
girls and (40%) boys of the total (3200) students. The University had offered 5 batches of gradutes
with this batch adds up to 6 overall. I was part of this mega event where one
could see expressions of pride, joy and accomplishment on the faces of young
gradutes from all the above departments while receiving their diplomas from
their faculty professors and special guests of the occasion.

There
were parents, relatives, friends and colleagues to congratulate these graduates for the
honor they acclaimed after tireless efforts. They do deserve our appreciation
for what they accomplished in Bamyan where girls sometimes need to walk
almost 10 KM to reach university when their university bus breaks down; where
boys spent 4 golden years of their age in dormitory which is in desperate
condition with no electricity, no washroom, almost no nothing. Those rather fortuante
live in rooms of (4 – 6) on the second floor or shops located in the main
bazaar. I regard their patience and enthusiams for having spent 4 years in BamyanCenter
where weather reaches to 35 °C in summer and around -30°C in winter and the
limitations they got along with. Anyhow, it must have been worth effort for
each singel of them. I was also there to congratulate few friendsand  further success I wished them for this is yet
another beginning for the better Afghanistan we dream. I for real wonder how
the country is going to use knowledge and expertise of these graduates and sure
some will seek scholarships in countries like India, Turkey, China, Kyrgyztan,
Pakistan and luckier ones in some European countries for their Masters Degree.

Let’s not forget the countless struggle of
professors in Bamyan University whose efforts do count in preparing these
graduates for greater challenges and better opportunities for the life they aim
for.